Katie Sandford has just
gotten an interview at her favourite music magazine, The Line. It's the
chance of a lifetime. So what does she do? Goes out to celebrate - and
shows up still drunk at the interview. No surprise, she doesn't get the
job, but the folks at The Line think she might be perfect for another
assignment for their sister gossip rag. All Katie has to do is follow It
Girl Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop (and
complete the 30-day program without getting kicked out), they'll
reconsider her for the job at The Line.

Katie takes the job. But things get complicated when real
friendships develop, a cute celebrity handler named Henry gets involved,
and Katie begins to realize she may be in rehab for a reason. Katie has
to make a decision -- is publishing the article worth everything she
has to lose?

Emma's thoughts:“Imagine if Bridget
Jones fell into a million little pieces, flew over the cuckoo’s nest,
and befriended Lindsay Lohan along the way, and you are beginning to
grasp the literary roller coaster ride that is Catherine McKenzie’s Spin.”

—Leah McLaren, author of The Continuity Girl

That is by far, the truest thing I've heard about this book.

I cannot even begin to explain how I feel about Spin. At first, I read the summary, thinking this would be a cute, easy read. Cute and easy doesn't even come close. Roller coaster is right.

Entering Kate's world is, I have to say, entertaining. She's a fun, relatable, and had me cracking up every page. I felt like this was a long novel, but not in the sense that it was boring, but I felt like after finishing this, I've lived an entire life with Kate, and the Oasis crew. When I first read about Kate's 'assignment', I admit it, I guffawed. Spy in rehab? Well, let me tell you this, I did not expect an intense, emotional, and utterly touching journey.

Amber (aka The Girl Next Door, aka TGND, aka the subject of the assignment) is a curious character. The first thing you hear from her is "Wrebbit!" An excellent actress, but a surprisingly deep and sentimental girl. She's moody and slightly eccentric, totally over the rails, but as Kate gets to know her, Amber managed to snuggle into a place in my heart. She's like a child, that you just can't help but to worry and care for.

I absolutely love the way all the relationships were developed in this story (with the exception of TGND and YJB's). Even with Saundra, Katie's therapist, dog-obsessed, and irritably stiff. Their discussions really introduces us to Katie and her upbringing. Thirty years old, aspiring journalist and an avid drinker, she begins to realize that maybe she does have a problem, and maybe she does need help.

Not only hearing about Kate's life, but everyone else's life in group therapy, it made me realize that people do actually have these problems. My life is tightly wound in bubble wrap in this sickeningly perfect community, and the closest thing I get to the real world is the news and books like these.

You learn to love each and every individual character. Even YJB grew on me! And when it's over, the saddest feeling washed over me. I was reluctant to finish this book. I didn't want to leave this family Kate had found. Her old friends, and the new ones.

This quote, I don't ever want to forget:

"...I know what messy is, and it isn't love. No, love is supposed to be simple. It's supposed to be about brushing raindrops off eyelashes, and looks across a crowded room. It's supposed to be about watching a shooting star, or the way a leaf falls off a tree and floats to the ground.
It's supposed to be about apple peels."

Henry and Kate's budding relationship was delightful to read about. It wasn't insta-love, it wasn't 'oh-i-can't-live-without-you!' It was just two people, affectionate, but cautious, and wary of the consequences (but c'mon, who can resist a delectable redhead with a witty mouth?).

I am so glad I requested this book. It deserves to be well-known and swooned over. Definitely a new favourite :)

I recommend this to: Anyone who loves a humorous, heart-warming read, or just really EVERYONE.

Rating: 5 stars~ Had me up til 4:30am! I just could not stop reading.

First:

This is how I lose my dream job.

Favourite:

His three days of stubble makes him look rugged and dangerous, like he could kill you with his bare hands.

Teaser:

Never get involved in a land war in Asia.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review (via Netgalley)

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